A home inspection is a vital part of a real estate transaction for sellers as well as buyers. But ultimately, buyers stand the most to lose. Once a sale is final, you’re stuck with the home as-is.
When you think of homes with problems, you’re probably thinking of the big stuff—obvious flaws that most people could see on your average walk-through.
And while my job is most certainly to document those kinds of major issues, I’m also on the lookout for little things. I’m trained to locate the subtle signs that indicate something major is wrong or could go wrong in the future.
Well-Kept Homes Can Still Have Problems
Maybe you know and trust the homeowner who’s selling the property. Maybe they are genuinely nice, trustworthy people who’ve done their best to keep their home in good condition. Unfortunately, their property can still have major flaws.
Well-maintained plumbing can still spring a leak. Recently replaced roofs can still suffer wind damage. And well-intentioned sellers can still accidentally leave you with a big mess that’s now your problem.
“New” Doesn’t Mean “Problem Free”
So you’re buying new construction, or maybe the seller has footed the bill for a brand-new roof, flooring, or pipes.
It’s reassuring to have new things. “New” feels like it’s got time before something goes wrong. But not all problems are caused by age.
In fact, new construction and significant renovations can cause their own set of problems. Just because the materials are new doesn’t mean they were assembled or installed properly. Recent work isn’t as valuable unless it was done correctly.
Most Property Will be Less Than Ideal
Unless you work in real estate, it’s easy to get your hopes up. Everyone aspires to a “dream home.” But as we’ve already covered, even ideal circumstances can lead to less-than-ideal properties.
That’s why it’s helpful to go into your buying experience with a level head. The issues I document don’t have to be deal breakers. I’m not trying to talk you in or out of a purchase, but buildings are complex and things will go wrong. Prepare yourself and rely on the experts to help guide you through. That’s what we’re here for.
